September 20th: apple crisp

Last week, Olivia and I spent some time on Sunday apple-picking at our local orchard. Last year when I took her I waited till too late in the season and we ended up picking apples out of a barrel rather than off the trees. This year I thought I was smart, going before summer was over, but nope. We went too late in the day this time - who knew Sunday mornings were wild times for apple-picking? - and by the time we went on Sunday afternoon, there were only green apples left on the trees. We picked some anyway; Olivia was bored after picking about 4, though she did love running around through the fallen apples and trying not to fall herself. Then I stood in line for 10 minutes to pay $2 for my 2 lbs of apples, during which time, Olivia went climbing on boulders and got lectured by another mother who felt the need to tell my child what to do. I splurged on apple cider and a candied apple, which cost way more than the apples themselves, and we went home happy. Then, green apples to deal with...


After a week, and the apples were still green, I decided to cook them. I had originally thought applesauce, but then I decided to go fancy and make apple crisp. But on a weeknight, I wanted it to be fast, and if you want fast and weeknight-friendly, I recommend Michael Smith. I found this dead easy apple crisp recipe and made it quickly while supper was cooking. It's not the most fantastic apple crisp ever, but it required few ingredients, came together quickly, and I cooked it in half the time recommended. I don't like my apples to be complete mush. Good stuff, and Olivia loved it. Apparently I haven't made apple crisp in the part of her life she can remember, because she was confused: "I like this applesauce, I mean apple cider, I mean, what is this?"